Septic to Sewer

FWEAUC supports Septic-to-Sewer

To safeguard water quality, Florida is directing its attention toward a targeted transition from septic systems to sewer systems. This initiative is of particular significance given that Florida is home to approximately 6.5% of the U.S. population and hosts 12% of the nation's septic systems, with a substantial portion situated in environmentally sensitive areas. While septic systems serve as effective wastewater disposal solutions under specific environmental conditions, they do not effectively remove nutrients. To address this concern, there is a strong endorsement for transitioning septic systems to centralized sewer systems, particularly in environmentally delicate and densely populated regions.

To ensure the efficacy of wastewater treatment systems, it is imperative to enforce consistent maintenance requirements for conventional systems and to promote the use of advanced treatment septic systems in environmentally sensitive areas. In instances where centralized sewer systems are not viable, alternatives such as aerobic treatment units (ATUs) or performance-based treatment systems (PBTSs) become vital. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), along with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) during the transition of the Onsite Sewage Program in accordance with the Clean Waterways Act, plays a pivotal role in enforcing the maintenance standards for ATUs and PBTSs. This stringent oversight ensures that these systems operate efficiently, reducing nutrient discharges and bolstering environmental restoration and protection.

Additionally, there is a growing need for the establishment of a consistent and adequately funded grant program dedicated to supporting septic-to-sewer conversion projects. The aim is to prevent the burden of conversion costs from falling upon current utility rate payers, thus preventing significant inequity. Utilities are dedicated to maintaining fair, consistent and affordable rate structures for their customers, which makes the development of such grant programs all the more crucial in achieving equitable and environmentally responsible wastewater management solutions.